Volleyball Tops Elon, 3-1, To Improve To 2-0 In CAA Play

Friday, September 23

Elon, NC

7 p.m.

James Madison University

10-5, 2-0

Elon

13-4, 0-1

James Madison

Elon

Volleyball Tops Elon, 3-1, To Improve To 2-0 In CAA Play

9/23/2016 9:38:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score @JMUVolleyball JMU Volleyball on Facebook Box Score 2016 Schedule/Results

ELON, N.C. – James Madison volleyball (10-5, 2-0 CAA) dropped the third set, but battled back for a 3-1 (25-16, 25-23, 22-25, 25-22) victory over Elon (13-4, 0-1) inside Alumni Gym on Friday evening as the Dukes improved to 2-0 in Colonial Athletic Association play.

The Dukes tallied 60 kills competed to the Phoenix's 47 as a trio of Dukes garnered double-digit kills for the second consecutive match. Senior right side hitter Janey Goodman led JMU's offense with 18 kills on a .350 hitting percentage, adding four digs and three blocks.

Sophomore outside hitter Bryn Recker added 15 kills and nine digs, just shy of her second consecutive double-double. Freshman outside hitter Briley Brind'Amour added 10 kills, while senior middle blocker Kelly Robertson totaled nine. Sophomore setter Tilbe Yaglioglu dished out 30 assists, leading JMU to a .308 team hitting percentage. Defensively, junior libero Taylor Austin racked up 18 digs.

The Dukes capitalized on a Brind'Amour kill, three Elon errors and a block from Goodman and middle blocker Taylor Gail to tally a 5-0 run to take a 16-6 lead over the Phoenix. Elon fought off two set points, but a Goodman kill gave JMU a 25-16 set victory. The second set was tightly contested as the Dukes held a 23-22 advantage late. A ball handling error on JMU help Elon extend the match, 24-23, but Brind'Amour closed the match with a kill to give JMU a 2-0 lead at the break.

James Madison battled from behind in the third set, locking the set at 20-all, but Elon held on to win the set, 25-22. Elon fought off four straight match points before a final kill from Brind'Amour for the second consecutive night secured a JMU victory.

QUOTING COACH STEINBRECHER
"It is always great to get a win in the CAA. This year looks to be the tightest race yet in conference, and the CAA is the strongest it's been, top to bottom. Elon is a great team with 13 wins. We expected a battle. We are proud of the entire team for sticking together and finding a way to win on the road."

OFFENSIVE POWER
For the first time since the 2015 season, two Dukes closed a match with 15 or more kills as Goodman and Recker tallied 18 and 15, respectively. Goodman was a part of the Dukes last duo to accomplish the feat as the senior garnered 23 kills while Meghan Niski added 15 in JMU's 3-2 win at the College of Charleston on Oct. 16, 2015.

TWEET OF THE MATCH

@JMUVolleyball Solid work tonight! Congrats on the W! #BusinessTrip #DigTheDukes
— James Hickey (@PressBoxGuy) September 24, 2016

UP NEXT
The Dukes continues their road trip on Friday, Sept. 30 as James Madison travels to Hempstead, N.Y. to face Hofstra in conference play. First serve is set for 7 p.m. JMU returns to Godwin Hall on Friday, Oct. 7 when the Dukes hosts UNCW at 7 p.m.